Shock 2018 vote claims

HARARE - There are shocking claims that seven large containers, allegedly carrying materials which the opposition says is meant to manipulate and rig the crucial 2018 national elections, are on their way to Zimbabwe from Israel.

A confidential shipping memo that the Daily News has seen indicates that the seven containers are already at the South African Port of Durban, having been dispatched from Herzlia, Israel in January.

The shipments apparently stem from an alleged surreptitious agreement signed last year by the Zimbabwe Registrar General’s office and Nikuv International, amid fresh fears that the materials are meant be used to fix the crucial 2018 vote which President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to take part in due to advanced age.

Despite determined attempts by the Daily News to solicit a comment from Nikuv this week, the company had by last night not commented on the consignment, its alleged involvement, the contents of the shipment and the delivery route.

The Daily News’s quest for answers from Nikuv included e-mailed questions.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson said: “The shipments point to some seedling which is taking place ahead of the next election whenever it is going to be held. Unfortunately, Nikuv and its seedling have dismally failed to rig the economy which is on a free fall.”

Tobaiwa Mudede, Zimbabwe’s Registrar General, also flatly declined to comment on the contraband when the Daily News asked him about this during the Defence and Home Affairs parliamentary portfolio committee fact-finding visit to Makombe Building in Harare, and KG VI offices three days ago.

An angry Mudede went on to kick out the Daily News crew from the function after being questioned about the shipment.

Documents seen by the Daily News show that the suspicious consignment is being handled by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

Adding fuel to the claims is the fact that the shipments themselves are protected by intense security protocol, which means specifics like routes, transportation method, quantities and schedules remain top secret.

The seven large containers were dispatched from Herzlia, Israel, according to the information on the shipping memos. Six of these containers measure 40 feet and are registered under the Bill of Lading Code MSCUJN329741, with one more container, also measuring 40 feet, shipped under the Bill of Lading Code MSCUJN329808.

The MSC Logistics (Pvt) Ltd, the Durban-based import controller and co-regulator of the transfers, told the Daily News that rules restricted it from disclosing such information to the public, although it did confirm that “final destination for both bills are Harare”.

The consignment was apparently dispatched via Japan in January and has been stuck at the Durban harbour following the botching of the logistical arrangement, a situation that might have led to the exposure of the clandestine shipment as well as its intended destination.

The information at hand shows that the shipment left Yokohama, Japan, on January 6, 2014, through the route or ship called MSC KRITTIKA/VOYAGE HI350A.

However, a problem developed after the Nikuv containers reached Durban Port and the clearing agent tried to process their transportation to Harare.

It was apparently discovered that the name and address of the recipient was likely to attract attention and blow the lid on the clandestine shipment because the recipient was registered as Nikuv International Project Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The recipient was then apparently changed to Registrar General, Harare, at the end of February.

But by last Friday, the containers were still stuck at Durban Port.

Reliable sources who chose to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation say there are apparently worries on the part of both Nikuv and the RG’s office that attempting to transport the containers now could lead to the discovery of the “sinister contents.”

MSC, the import controller, said it was awaiting further instructions from Nikuv in Israel, which also refused to comment on the contents of the seven containers.

A Durban-based official privy to the containers saga said: “There are materials used for elections in all those containers as well as IT equipment meant for the same purpose. That is why they are stuck here because the whole process was supposed to be carried out very secretly to avoid detection of the contents.”

Comments (31)

nikuv, nikuv why cant u do us favour , like u did to ur felows ,u rigged the elections very well, now we need ur assistance in rigging this economy so that we take control of everything,

jonathan - 3 April 2014

Load of rubish. This kind of journalism will not get us anywhere.

godfrey gudo - 3 April 2014

Zvakaoma. Chokwadi chinorwadzaka Godfrey Gudo. So, what would you rather see the Daily News do? Lie, see and hear no evil? Fat chance! We need more and deeper investigations Daily News. Kkkkkk!

Kamba - 3 April 2014

Upon tracking from MSC Website, the bill number was for a shipment from Yokohama Japan and the containers are already empty in the in the container yard. The other bill # is invalid. My friend, kana washaya zvekunyora keep quiet, should MSC decide to take it up nemutemo kabepa kenyu kanovharwa aka.

Could it be that some Zanoids are now also mentally demented. How does the fact that the containers are now empty or that no-one can now locate some bills disprove the story?

Musorodamba - 3 April 2014

Why do you want to lie to people that the shipment is stuck at Durban port. By 28 January 2014 the containers were already empty in Harare

petso - 3 April 2014

Petso, you appear to know so much about this issue. So, why don't you enlighten the rest of us who don't know? Whose containers were they and what was in them? Come on, go on and tell us!

Khetai - 3 April 2014

These are signs of desperation,this papers is trying to stay relevant and it can't just stop at nothing. This journo needs to know that times are changing and if it continues like this will be left behind and will just disappear into the wilderness

hombre - 3 April 2014

Like you Brother Khetai, I am now also very interested in this story and want to know what's going on here. Curiously, those who claim to know the real truth are only interested at throwing stones at the Daily News and won't share with us what they know!

Mercy - 3 April 2014

maybe these containers are passport material

wordwriter - 3 April 2014

The comments above have made me better informed. There are people among our midst who understand what investigation is really. HOWEVER, if the story is so, why then would the Registrar General get angry to the extent of expelling the reporters? To me this could have added the feeling that there might be something that the RG was not happy about. If the position was (is) like what the comments above have revealed, then surely the RG should just have reported so. The same applies to all the other parties who are allegedly been asked about the containers. The issue at hand is the PHYSICAL inspection of the containers. I don't mean the contents but to physically check if there were in Durban as alleged. The paperwork narrated in the comments above may be at variance with the physical location of the containers.

charamba - 3 April 2014

Yeah yeah yeah..conspiracy theories. This rag never sees anything good in this country expect the ertenally losing and intellectually deficient Morgan Tsvangirai.

jacktheswede - 3 April 2014

By that time Mugabe will have long gone,and it is either we will not participate in a shame election or we will take up arms and remove these idiots from power,only.

josefa chinotimba - 3 April 2014

zanu is capable of doing anything. even if they want to rule till donkeys grow horns who cares? As long as God is with us who can be against us?

ad zoo - 3 April 2014

Charamba, The above gives you the Tracking details relating to the Location, Description and the Date where the containers passed through

petso - 3 April 2014

I wonder why this Pesto guy insists on communicating in riddles and refuses to simply tell us whose containers these were for and what was in them? He clearly knows a lot. I smell a rotten rat.

Khetai - 3 April 2014

I am only disputing the paragraghs "Adding fuel to the claims is the fact that the shipments themselves are protected by intense security protocol, which means specifics like routes, transportation method, quantities and schedules remain top secret." and "But by last Friday, the containers were still stuck at Durban Port"

petso - 3 April 2014

Mark my words. These are destined for Malawi. You cannot start to rig 2018 elections now. ZANU PF is never a forward planning party. ZANU PF is doing everything to help Malawi through NIKUV

dick mboko - 3 April 2014

Thanks Petso, I now see where you are coming from. I had assumed that you were querying the ownership and contents of the shipments and that you had much more insight into this.

Khetai - 3 April 2014

Hey stop making noise are these the first elections that are going to be rigged? Is it still news in Zimbabwe that elections are rigged? So please stop making noise and concentrate on other issues.

Exiled - 3 April 2014

Spare us. This is 3 April and not 1 April.

muvengwa munondivengerei - 3 April 2014

The truth about that consignment is that it contains materials to be used at Mugabe' s funeral. Its nothing to do with elections for 2018.

Zizihaharinanysnga - 3 April 2014

A more likely explanation is that these are the 31 July 2013 results being returned after having been made to comply with the published results. So now ZEC will suddenly agree to the opening of ballots. Hopefully this will remove an doubts about "who won".

someone said zanu are not forward planners.i think that is incorrect. remember when they lost in 2008, they there and then started to find out how they can rig without being caught. the main man there was mudede and he continues to do that up to this day . the place flooded with cio than any in this country is the registry office. maybe even those guys who pretend to help us jump the line are some of them. they will be doing whatsoever they are doing not for zim, but for zanu to rule. lets not just write this rumour off, there might be something in it. they say there is no smoke without a fire. how true

see - 4 April 2014

someone said zanu are not forward planners.i think that is incorrect. remember when they lost in 2008, they there and then started to find out how they can rig without being caught. the main man there was mudede and he continues to do that up to this day . the place flooded with cio than any in this country is the registry office. maybe even those guys who pretend to help us jump the line are some of them. they will be doing whatsoever they are doing not for zim, but for zanu to rule. lets not just write this rumour off, there might be something in it. they say there is no smoke without a fire. how true

see - 4 April 2014

Can America and Bitain assist Zimbabawe in Bombing Israel. Cna the Nikuv assist ZANU PF in rigging the economy please. Professor Moyo uploaded the media in reporting corrupting activities. Daily News, you are doing exactly what the Minister said. This is journalism. Herald where are you please. Get it from Mudede then you publish it for the nation

bob - 4 April 2014

they are special material paper and ink which we brought via durban and arrived in zim ,and are kept and kg6 storage 1,4,7,8.that is why nikuv moved to kg6.tibvunzei

chokwadi - 4 April 2014

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